Iran Airforce 1922-1945

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On March 22, 1935, the name of the country was officially changed from Persia to IranOn October 1, 1935, the IIAF was reported to have on charge51 Tiger Moths (33 Gipsy III and 18 Gipsy Major)29 Hornet Audaxes28 Pegasus Audaxes20 Furies (Mercury)10 R-5s (M-17)2 Junkers W 33s (L 5)11 R-1s (M-5, including five without engines)1 Curtiss Fledgling (Wright Whirlwind)

In the summer of 1936 new squadrons were established at Mashad and Ahvaz with a planned strength of 7 Audaxes7 Furies2 Tiger Moths

In order to become self-sufficient, the Persian Government had decided to establish its own aircraft production facilities. The Iranian Aircraft Factory was erected at Shahbaz, Doshan Teppeh, 3.5 miles south-east of Tehran. The first aircraft built were five Tiger Moths. A batch of five Audaxes were completed during the spring of 1938.

The Shah inspected the factory on June 21, 1938, and was told that work was under way on new batches of five Audaxes and five Tiger Moths. At the end of the year the premises were expanded. The Tiger Moths were completed in March 1939 and the Audaxes were test flown and delivered in April-May the same year. In addition twenty British-built Tiger Moths arrived by rail to Tehran in June, to be assembled at the Iranian Aircraft Factory.

In 1934 a military-run Iranian air service was planned. five Fox Moth and five Dragon transports from de Havilland, but a smaller scheme was finally opted for. Three DH 89 Dragon Rapides (c/ns 6321-6323) were purchased in the following year. They arrived in July 1936 and were assembled by Peter de Havilland at Ahvaz. Three Persian pilots had been trained to fly the Dragon Rapide in England. In June 1938three squadrons of the 1st Regiment at Tehran had 15 Furies7 Tiger Moths15 Audaxes

6 Tiger Moths15 Audaxes7 Tiger Moths, respectively.

The Flying Training School3 Furies8 Audaxes31 Tiger Moths.

Detachments at Mashad and Ahvaz each had 7-8 Audaxes and 3 Tiger Moths. Further expansion of the IIAF was intended and an order had been placed in the previous year for 35 two-seat Hawker Hinds powered by the Bristol Mercury VIII. The first of these, s/n 601, made its first flight in April 1938. The first 18 arrived at Ahvaz in November and the last of the remaining 17 flew from Ahvaz to Tehran in February 1939. Another 20 Hinds were to be built at the Iranian Aircraft Factory and production of parts for the airframes started in February 1939. These aircraft were assembled and delivered in the spring of 1941.

In addition there was the Flying Training School at Mehrabad (3 Furies, 8 Audaxes, 35 Hinds and 51 Tiger Moths). The 5th Regiment was formed a little later at Doshan Teppeh, initially with 11 Tiger Moths.

Wedding Gifts and HurricanesOn April 14, 1939, a Polish-built RWD-13 cabin monoplane (SP-BNY, c/n 285) piloted by Przysiecki and Krynski arrived in Tehran. It was a wedding gift to the crown prince from the Polish president and was later incorporated into the IIAF. A contract was signed, however, for three Airspeed Oxford Mk Is in the autumn of 1939 and delivered about March 1940.

In October 1940 a last batch of 10 Tiger Moths was delivered from England. A Hawker Hurricane was shipped to Iran for a six-month test on July 28, 1939. It arrived at Ahvaz and was flown to Tehran by Hawker test pilot Richard Reynell on 18 October. An order was placed for 30 Hurricanes with Merlin III engines, but the Air Ministry only agreed to release 15, to be despatched during the period March-September 1940. A second aircraft was flown in Persian colours in Great Britain in May 1940 but was probably never sent.

In November 1939 an IIAF mission purchased ten Curtiss H-75A-9 Hawk fighters which were accepted in the USA between March 9 and April 8, 1941. One was shipped in March and the remainder in May.

World War TwoWith the Germans advancing through the southern parts of the USSR against the Caucasus, the Allies considered the strong German presence in Iran unacceptable. On August 17, 1941, the USSR and Great Britain demanded the expulsion of German personnel working in Iran. This was rejected and as a consequence Iran was invaded on August 25.

British troops entered the country from the south and the west, and the Russians arrived from the north. Following the conclusion of British operations in Iraq in May 1941, plans had been drawn up for an operation against Iran. The British Commander-in Chief, Middle East, ordered an occupation of the oilfields around Abadan and Ahvaz and at Khanikin. Control of communications throughout Iran was to be established in co-operation with the USSR.

The whole operation was code-named Operation 'Y' and was to be led by Lt Gen E P Quinan. Participating RAF aircraft were based at Shaibah and included 11 and 84 Squadrons with Blenheim IVs, 261 Squadron with Hurricanes and Gladiators, 244 Squadron with Vincents and 'A' Flight of 31 Squadron with six Valentia transports. The Valentias flew in troops and evacuated British and Indian women and children on the first day of the operation.

The Royal Navy also landed troops. 261 Squadron provided fighter support and strafed the airfield and the IIAF Audaxes at Ahvaz. 84 Sq made two bombing attacks and 244 Squadron flew reconnaissance sorties. On the following day 261 Squadron shot down an IIAF Audax. They also attacked and shot down one of their own, a Vincent from 244 Squadron!

On August 28, 84 Squadron continued to attack Ahvaz, but on this day the Iranian troops surrendered and further offensive action was halted. On September 17 the Anglo-Russian forces moved into Tehran. A month later, after the Shah had abdicated in favour of his son, the British withdrew to Sultanabad and Hamadan, and the Russians to Kazirin and Pahlavi. 244 Sq, including 'X' Flight made up of the Gladiators from 261 Squadron, remained at Abadan as the air component of the British occupation forces until late 1942.

The Russian forces were composed of the 44th and 47th Armies (Trans-Caucasian Military District) and the 53th Detached Army. Air units included the 36th and 265th IAP (Fighter Air Regiment) with Polikarpov I-16 fighters. According to Iranian reports Tabriz, Mashad, Ardebil, Rasht and Bender-Pahlavi were bombed, but Russian records mention only reconnaissance and leaflet dropping sorties. When Tabriz was taken on August 28 the Russians captured all the aircraft belonging to the 2nd IIAF Regiment.

The RAF was reported to have destroyed a total of five IIAF aircraft and another in a hangar that was set on fire during the attacks. The ten Curtiss H75A-9s were captured still unassembled by the British forces. At least three were assembled and flown at Tehran, all were later shipped to India. They were taken over by the RAF as Mohawk IVs.

The Aircraft Factory ceased production after the invasion and No 138 Maintenance and Repair Unit, RAF, was later housed on the premises. Mines and aircraft parts were produced there, but IIAF aircraft were also serviced and repaired. Iran was forced to let the Allies use Iranian communications for the transit of war supplies to the USSR. A large number of mostly US-built Lend-Lease aircraft were assembled at Abadan, where a plant was built for the purpose, and sent to the USSR during the period 1942-45. A-20s, B-25s, P-39s, P-40s, P-47s and AT-6s passed through Iran, the last ones being three P-47D Thunderbolts handed over to the Russians in February 1945.

A declaration of war on Germany in September 1943, and the decision by the Allies in November the same year to recognise Iranian assistance and give economic aid, opened the way for deliveries of new aircraft. An allotment of at least 10 Oxford twin-engine trainers was discussed as a compensation for the Mohawks taken in 1941, but it was finally decided to supply 15 ex-RAF Avro Ansons instead. They were shipped in May-June 1944 and were assigned to the 1st Bomber Regiment at Doshan Teppeh.